Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

North American river otters are important parts of healthy, aquatic ecosystems.

North American river otters have been hunted for many years for their attractive and durable fur. In the 1983-84 hunting season, 33,135 otters were taken with an average selling price of $18.71 per pelt. Otters are stll an important source of income for many people in Canada and the western United States. River otters also eat "trash fish" that compete with more economically desirable game fish.